In this special episode, Rob Pyne takes a step back from interviewing industry leaders and instead delivers a curated, narrative walkthrough of the first 30 episodes of The Trusted Adviser. Recorded during the week of the FAAA Congress in Perth, this recap distils the standout lessons, commercial insights, and industry-shaping ideas shared across the series so far.
If you’re new to the show, this is your guided map for where to begin.
If you’ve been with us from the start, it’s a powerful reminder of the insights worth revisiting.
LISTEN
What Rob covers in this episode:
0:30 – Episode 1: Employee Ownership & The Team Equity Trust
How multi-generational ownership models are built
Design, valuation, vesting, financing, communication and the behavioural architecture behind HPH’s Team Equity Trust.
1:34 – Episode 2: Understanding Valuations (Tim Lane, FinConnect)
What drives valuation beyond the number
Quality of earnings, recurring revenue, systemisation and removing key-person risk.
2:14 – Episode 3: M&A Realities (Richard Hannan, Broadleaf Financial Group)
Where deals succeed or fail
Culture, data integrity, client transition planning and structured due diligence.
2:36 – Episode 4: When Planners Become Technologists (Pat Gardner, Collins SBA & Rubicon)
Process before platform
Mapping advice workflows, Salesforce transformation, and early wins with AI.
3:00 – Episode 5: Scaling Through Outsourcing (Jerry Ellis, ePDM Assist)
What to outsource, what not to, and how to integrate teams properly
The rhythms that make offshore resourcing genuinely effective—not transactional.
3:18 – Episode 6: Specialist Risk Advice (Jade Burford, MBS Insurance)
Why risk advice still matters
Data, insurer relationships, proactive reviews and claims advocacy.
3:36 – Episode 7: Scaling Without Losing Soul (Dan Brown, Coastal Advice Group)
Values-driven growth
Leadership energy, clarity of roles and disciplined integration across multiple locations.
3:53 – Episode 8: Pricing as a Growth Lever (Phil Little, Slipstream Group)
Why pricing is the most under-utilised business accelerator
Confidence, minimums, value communication and commercial discipline.
4:10 – Episode 9: SMA Ecosystems (Chris West & Mike Parker, Context Capital)
When SMAs enhance efficiency and client outcomes
Tax, scalability and operational nuance.
4:23 – Episode 10: Strategic Partnerships & Minority Equity (David Haintz, Merchant IM)
How capital partners can unlock growth
What Merchant looks for, how minority equity works, and the power of expert peer networks.
4:38 – Episode 11: AI as an Advice Ally (Nick Downie & Sam Pattison, Direct Wealth)
AI that actually works today
Meeting prep, summaries, drafting—when firms structure their data.
4:59 – Episode 12: Building Award-Winning Culture (Almond Partners)
Values, frameworks and succession planning
Operational clarity that accelerates growth.
5:10 – Episode 13: Scaling Evidence-Based Advice (Cameron Passmore, PWL Capital)
Talent development and empowering clients through education
5:30 – Episode 14: Structural Barriers in Advice Firms (Eliza De Pardo)
The small structural shifts that create big growth
Role clarity, pricing, segmentation and discipline.
5:42 – Episode 15: Understanding Private Markets (Frontier Advisors)
Liquidity, risk and due diligence
The essentials advisers must know before introducing private assets.
5:56 – Episode 16: The Diamond Team Model (Walter & Hunt)
Scaling multi-generation firms
EOS, team structure and disciplined operations.
6:11 – Episode 17: Brand vs Publicity (Keith Baird, Reverb Media)
How advice firms can stand out in a noisy market
Point of view, communication and content pitfalls.
6:25 – Episode 18: Innovation vs Cybersecurity (Neil Kendall, Tupicoffs)
Balancing access, safety and governance
6:39 – Episode 19: Policy Reform & Professionalism (David Sharpe, AFA)
How advocacy shapes business models, pricing and access
6:56 – Episode 20: Process Mining for Advice Firms (Stephen Bell, Tegra)
Fixing ‘spaghetti workflows’
Clarity, ownership and unified systems.
7:10 – Episode 21: Leadership & Letting Go (Terry Reid, Trekk Consulting)
Moving from control to empowerment
7:23 – Episode 22: G2 Leadership Development (Philip Palaveev, Ensemble Practice)
Responsibility > ego
Shared leadership, confidence in people and numbers.
7:33 – Episode 23: Scalable People Models (APT Wealth Partners)
Graduate pipelines, leadership pathways and ownership
7:48 – Episode 24: Automation as Digital Staff (Nick Parrot, Allume Group)
RPA in real advice firms
Data entry, preparation and scalable automation roadmaps.
8:01 – Episode 25: The Future CRM (Glenn Elliott, Practifi & Millis)
Intelligent prompts, automation and open architecture
8:17 – Episode 26: High-Trust Mergers (Ben Calder)
Cultural alignment, long-term collaboration and integrated management
8:32 – Episode 27: Benchmarking Profitability (Rob Jennings, Peloton Partners)
Why most firms undercharge
Capacity, team structure and the hidden profit drivers.
8:47 – Episode 28: AI, Data & APIs – A Technologists’ Roundtable
The future of advice operations in one conversation
8:59 – Episode 29: Life-Centred Advice (Zach Leeson, HPH Solutions)
Discovery, workflows, and communication rhythms that create exceptional CX
9:12 – Episode 30: The True CFO Function (Dan Heckendorf)
Why clarity in numbers drives clarity in decisions
Strategic rhythms, forward-looking metrics and insights from 30+ firms.
9:33 – Closing Reflections
A look at the themes shaping the profession—leadership, pricing, technology, M&A, culture and client experience.
Listen to the episode to explore where to start, what to revisit, and what to action next inside your own practice.
Show notes and transcript
For the full show notes and transcript from this episode, head to the episode page on The Trusted Adviser Website here.